The Juvet landscape hotel designed by architects Jan Olav Jensen and Borre Skodvin is a gathering of Norwegian nature, culture and modern design. Thoughtful in conception and execution, the hotel was based around the idea of allowing guests to experience nature with minimal interference. The idea of pushing the envelope on sustainability has intrigued me for some time, taking into consideration not only consumption but also the impact on the terrain during construction and inhabitation. Architecturally the idea of sustainability is highly focused on the consumption of energy but what really drew me to this project is the added aspect of the conservation of topography. Situated on a nature reserve, it was the idea of topography being an aspect of sustainability that convinced conservation authorities to allow the hotel project to move forward since construction would not include any rock blasting or change to the terrain. 'Standard building procedure requires the general destruction of the site to accommodate foundations and infrastructure before building can commence, '...conserving the site is a way to respect the fact that nature precedes and succeeds man.'

In its first phase the project started with seven landscape rooms built individually into existing topography. Resulting in seven cubes on stilts nestled into a forest of birch, osp, pine and age-old boulders. Each cube built with glass walls that take in the view of the valley, river and gorge bellow. The interior of each room was styled in dark palettes to redirect your focus to the view outside, "...we wanted to give the rooms an experienced space that is as large as the landscape.'

The project has since expanded into more dwellings and amenities designed under the same approach on conservation and landscape, with a play and progression on minimal to more sophisticated modern architecture.